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'Quakes hope to extend home streak against 'Caps

Jul 19, 2011 - 9:23 PM Santa Clara, CA (Sports Network) - San Jose's six-game home unbeaten streak is a little deceiving at a glance, because its last three results are draws.

But those last three games, against the Philadelphia Union, Red Bull New York, and the Los Angeles Galaxy, were against three of Major League Soccer's best teams so far this season.

So, Wednesday night when the expansion Vancouver Whitecaps FC visit Buck Shaw Stadium, San Jose can push the streak to an impressive seven games - but a win and not a sixth home draw is the target.

The Earthquakes (5-6-8) lost their first home match of the season to Real Salt Lake, but have just one loss in nine games since. But with five of those games ending in draws, San Jose needs to start earning the full three points.

San Jose also settled for a draw in its last match, at the Columbus Crew, and defender Chris Leitch admitted "it would have been nice to have grabbed three points on the road" after the 0-0 draw.

Leitch was still happy to escape with a point from Crew Stadium, as he felt it was not "our best" effort. "Sometimes when that happens, you just have to bear down and get a result," he added. "We did that."

Goalkeeper Jon Busch earned his sixth shutout of the season, but his last two clean sheets have not resulted in victories for San Jose. In the competitive Western Conference, the Earthquakes need to start getting wins.

L.A. is already 16 points away in first place. In the Eastern Conference, San Jose would be just eight points behind first-place Philadelphia.

San Jose tied Vancouver earlier this year at Empire Field 1-1, where the 'Caps had a game on Monday against Manchester City. Although it was just a friendly, coach Tom Soehn used his full lineup for the first half of the 2-1 loss.

The positive was Vancouver's Camilo scored in the first half, recent signing Mustapha Jarju - a designated player - made his debut and City didn't bag its two goals until the second half after 10 'Caps starters were removed.

"These games are such a unique opportunity, and while you would love to play your starters full out, it's also good for our young guys and it was a chance of a lifetime to play a team like Manchester City," Soehn said.

Vancouver (2-10-8) last played in MLS on July 9, a 2-1 loss to Colorado, after its home match scheduled for Saturday against Real Salt Lake was postponed due to field conditions. The team put down a grass field over the artificial turf, and heavy rain soaked the pitch.

The Whitecaps managed to play Monday's friendly on the field but how they will react on the road and on such short rest against the Earthquakes and all-stars Chris Wondolowski and Bobby Convey remains a big question mark.